Angus in the big tub...

A Lofty Goal

I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I wanted to live deep and suck all the marrow of life. -- Henry David Thoreau, Walden

Angus' First Year...quarter by quarter

The Goose's First B-Day

Well, Angus lived a full year without us accidentally damaging him. This is most likely due to Liz as don't have a clue what I am doing.

Big party at daycare and then he got on his best duds as Uncle John promised to take him out to Nibs to pick up rock chicks...


I had to let him know that Uncle John is a big liar and Nibs has been closed for years. He took it hard and ate an entire cake.


We are hoping to keep him alive for another year...cross your fingers as he only goes one speed...FAST!

A Christmas "Goose"

About friggin' time we talked about...

...Mamography screening.
Let me start by saying that I am for this screening that obviously saves many women's lives.
That being said I will continue to the, most likely, less popular aspect.
It is not new that studies consistently show that yearly mamography screening in women below age 50 does not provide a great health benefit. It is a bloat to the healthcare system and drives all of our costs up. I personally think it started with good intentions and then was perpetuated by the insurance and healthcare system for profit by using a great motivator...fear. If you have a family history of breast cancer or have other indicators that show that maybe a closer look is warranted you, of course, get screened. This is science folks.
This is not about depriving women of necessary healthcare.
This in not about the government trying to take over our lives.
This is about getting real.
Let's get real and provide good, effective, affordable healthcare to all Americans and not just "the best" healthcare for those who have, and no healthcare for those who have not.

Here are some other interesting healthcare industry results from studies that will make you think a bit.

"U.S. pharmaceutical industry spent 24.4% of the sales dollar on promotion, versus 13.4% for research and development, as a percentage of US domestic sales of US$235.4 billion.
Currently, the industry makes $11.3 million in political contributions."

"Since 2006, the health sector has spent $1.7 billion lobbying Congress and federal agencies — more money than any other sector of the economy. Between January and September 2009, health care interests spent $396.2 million according to federal data collected by the Center for Responsive Politics (www.opensecrets.org), a nonpartisan organization that researches the influence of money on politics."

Healthcare in the US is big business, a commodity to be sold to those who can afford it.

Here are some interesting healthcare related interviews and artices from NPR:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120399265
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113971873

Angus at 9 Months

Angus Teague donning the family tartan(MacGregor)...we went with non-traditional and kept the diaper on(for him).

I thought things couldn't get worse...

...and then Bob Dylan put out a christmas album. What could we do to bad songs to make them worse? Have them sung by a guy that sounds like he's been drinking on a whaling ship for 50 years. Yep, that'll do it.

http://www.villagevoice.com/2009-10-13/music/o-rasp-all-ye-faithful-bob-dylan-s-christmas-album/

Creating Power-Pop/Punk-ish Trio - Seeking Drums

Ad on Craigslist

The Enforcer

We just got back from the big cross-country car trip to see the Leafs in Houston. Angus did well in the car...the hotel rooms are another story.
It was great to see Chrispy, Nate, Keri and my favorite monkey Maeve. Oops. When Maeve is in her soccer gear she prefers to be called "Number Nine". I compromised by screaming support for Monkey Number Nine. She scored a goal but her perfected skill was lining up properly on the circle to start play. She was very prompt and precise. Did I mention that her cleats had kewl pink stripes?!
Angus' favorite parts of the vacation were peeing in the pool, trying to eat Indy the kitty and absolutely not taking any naps at all.
Until next time, adios Casa de Leaf!

Seems so harmless...

Do you think there is a coincidence that we keep these little buggers in a crib that looks suspicously like a cage? I know he's sleeping now but he's dangerous with big, pointy teeth! I dare you to come over without your holy hand grenade!

Fishing with Dad

Well, this summer was not activity filled like I would have hoped. With the addition of little Angus I find myself either busy, sick or trying to get some sleep. I did get out once this summer fly fishing with my dad to southern Minnesota. Liz and Angus were "Up North" for the weekend so I took full advantage. Usually if we fish around here we hit Wisconsin as the streams are faster to get to but since I had a full day off(and a Minnesota license from the Boundary Waters adventure) we stayed on the home turf. Beautiful day, four trout a piece and didn't have to fight other anglers for space on the river.

The bonus...I got to hang out with some cows!

Countdown...

...to Houston
5 WEEKS!
...to the Labor Day Poker Extravaganza
2 WEEKS!
...to Minnesota State Fair
1 WEEK!

...to blowing my head off so that I don't have to work for a living
ANY FREAKIN' DAY NOW!

Friggin' Apple

Damn Apple and it's closed-door policies on hardware and software!
Damn Apple for it's cozy little monogamous relationship with AT&T!
Damn Apple for making the coolest phone ever!

I have been reading and hearing all about the new Apple iPhone 3GS from every corner lately. Being a consumer and a bit of a techie, the idea of such a slick little device replacing my phone, GPS and iPod is driving my a bit wacky. I want it now!

Damn the cell phone industry for it's contract pricing!

Why are we consumers playing this game with them? I don't have to sign a two year contract to get a deal on my home phone or television. I don't have to predict the future when deciding on a home phone or cable service provider.

Damn the cell phone industry(again) for it's compatibility issues!

You should be able to march in to a Best Buy(or any other electronics retailer) and purchase ANY phone at a competitive price and have it activated for ANY service provider. Maybe there is a small activation fee but you would just have month-to-month contracts.
Didn't the Declaration of Independence cover this kinda thing? Isn't this an unalienable right?
Maybe it would be covered under the Constitution if Apple came up with an iGun application.

Probably the only way out of my current contract would be to single-handedly bring down the Verizon network. How in the world am I going to manage that with all these guys in hard hats following me around all day long? I guess I will just have to count down the days, months and years until by contract expires. I will then move to AT&T, get the newest iPhone and pray that someone doesn't come along and one-up them.

Dammit.

Ramblings of an Old Fart

Okay, so let me start this off by saying that I understand that this is going to sound like an old man shaking his fist and yelling for kids to get off his lawn.

Fireworks.

I am all for a good fireworks show, the oohs, the ahhs, the music and the crowds. The smell of BBQ, warm beer and a little BO just means summer events in the cities. I am even in favor of going across state lines with a couple of friends and sneaking back a gross of bottle rockets and firecrackers. When we did this as kids we would send off a few every couple of days leading up to the 4th. We usually picked spots around the neighborhood on Saturday afternoons with some "cover" and then would quickly relocate so as not to "get busted".

In my current neighborhood the trend seems to be to import commercial-grade explosives and light them off every night after dark for 3 weeks leading up to, and one week following, Independence Day. I don't think they are even kids at this point but more likely twenty-somethings with a dislike for crowds, a taste for excitement and a normal disregard for anyone else. My dog does not appreciate it. The baby does not appreciate. I now, do not appreciate it.
My thoughts last night were to take my police issue flashlight and "let the beatings begin". Today I heard the sad news that some adult, probably as aggravated as I am, shot a 14 year old last night presumably because he was setting off fireworks. Who know the intent but the results were a bullet thru the neck.

I will need to work on my patience and understanding and realize that these brainless youths are probably much like I was, and probably don't deserve to be shot.
Now, the kid in the neighborhood with the "Fast and the Furious" muffler is another story.

Ravioli x 2

I would call it a minor success. My stomach is happy. Does anything else really matter?
I made meat and cheese ravioli and served them with a brown butter sauce and then a tomato-basil sauce. I am a huge fan of butter but I think I preferred the red sauce.
This pasta making is hard work! In my opinion you definitely need two people, lots of flour and major patience.
Fat and happy 4th of July.
Once again, I need a nap.

Mill City Farmers Market

For our July 4th family-style outing we headed downtown to the farmers market. We have been there before but Mecca, the monkey, let us know that Vera, the goat, and her baby would be there. Mecca knows that I have an affinity for the goatsers.

It was a pretty nice day for the market, a little humid, but better than sitting inside. The Goose did a great job for being in such a big crowd and managed a full 90 minutes of interraction with goats, chickens and puppies before starting to melt down.

We ended up having a lunch of organic beef hot dogs, beef tongue tacos and Arnie Palmers. The guac on the tacos was especially fresh and yummy.Next time I need to remember to bring more $$$ so that I can pick up some protien and veg to bring home and cook.

I need a nap, and then tonight...homemade ravioli!

Another Novice Food Adventure

Today I got up my nerve and purchased a Marcato pasta machine. I love homemade pasta and after reading the book Heat I had to just bite the bullet.
I made a simple linguine with tomato sauce and my own version of Milanese with beef. I thought it turned out really well for my first attempt. The pasta itself was good(although next time I would boil it in chicken broth instead of water), the sauce had nice flavor thanks to the fresh basil and the beef was nice but a bit overcooked.
All in all, a success for a first time.
I made extra dough so I can make another attempt this weekend.
Viva Italia!

Please Mommy, why can't I have one???

Are you freakin' kidding me??? Is this the cutest thing you ever saw???
Okay, enough with the extended punctuation, I really just want a goat.
I want a goat, and I want to name her Dave. Dave the Goat.

I keep asking Liz if I can have a goat and she keeps telling me I can't have one in the city. It turns out that she's right...mostly.
In Golden Valley (or Minneapolis) you cannot keep a hooved animal, which totally sucks. Why not? The pygmy versions are smaller than half of the dog breeds, hardly ever bark and I don't think they have the squirrel chasing obsession. Can't you just see me and Dave sitting outside the Starbucks enjoying a freshly brewed cup of joe. Dave would say, "Would you like to lighten that up?" and I would reply "Yes, please". At this point Dave would provide me with a couple of quick squirts of goat's milk(she would be a dead shot) and all would be well with the world.

In Seattle they have recognized that with the push for sustainability they should not overlook the small things. Thanks to the lobbying of The Goat Justice League (I wonder if they have t-shirts), the City Council declared that goats "are considered excellent pets due to their good-natured personalities, friendliness, faithfulness, and hardy constitution."

I have 1/3 of an acre, a neighbor with a chicken and a neighborhood with too many cats and dogs to count...what could one little goat do to upset the balance.

Positives: milk, cheese, friend for Moxie, Homeland Security(guard goat) and a manicured lawn...okay, maybe not manicured.
Negatives: none

GIMME MY GOAT!!!

Okay, still not convinced? I dare you to argue with this...

Organic Baby Cupcakes

I now understand why people grind up screaming babies into cupcakes.

I remember back in the old days I would sometimes have trouble sleeping. I have never been a great sleeper and sometimes it felt downright unbearable. I felt cheated of one of life's great pleasures, a good night sleep.
During a lapse in judgement or a moment of clarity, Liz and I decided to produce a small version of the two of us. He's pretty cute when he's not drooling, screaming or pooping. He's even cuter when he's sleeping. This usually happens on the third Wednesday of the month between 4pm and 6pm.
Angus.
Oh that little Angus.
I am sure he is wearing out Liz more than me, but I can tell you that it doesn't seem possible. I thought babies slept all the time?! We asked the doctor yesterday at the 6 month checkup and she didn't seem concerned. I think my cable guy is more concerned about keeping an appointment than our doctor is about his(and our) sleeping patterns.
My HR person told me today that in her culture in China it used to be a common practice to switch babies for a year when one was experiencing issues like this( or other issues like bad behavior). When they came home they were usually much better. She has a great little baby that sleeps and sleeps and sleeps...sign me the hell up!

Beef Short Ribs with Gnocchi

I have decided that now that we have a much more functional kitchen I am going to get back to trying to cook. With all of the buzz about organic protein and veg and the glut of food shows on TV I think I just gotta bite the bullet.

I am usually too scared of failing so I usually stick to my handful of favorite dishes that I know I can pull off. My new goal is to cook two new things per week. If something sucks there is always take out...and I will live to try another day.

On Friday night I fried catfish(cajun style), made cornbread and sauteed spinach with bacon and garlic. It was yummy and made me think of the South.

Tonight I made beef short ribs, gnocchi and asparagus a la Mario B. It was all pretty good but the sauce definitely stole the show with a base of a really decent red wine.

Tomorrow night I am going to do a turkey and vegetable stir fry. This is based more on what's on hand than what I think would be my ideal.

It would be really nice if I could take some cooking classes this year so that I could really get a better understanding of the basics. I really don't have a clue but that has never stopped me from doing anything before!

Smash Burger...more like pretty good burger

The suburb of Golden Valley is not a Mecca for foodies and as a transplant from Minneapolis I realize that, in Sam Kinison's words, I must "go where the food is". Most of the time that is just fine by me as I moved to GV for the quiet neighborhoods, a bigger house and a yard large enough for my dog Moxie to frolic... not for haute cuisine. After moving out to the suburbs I realized that it took me less time to commute to downtown or uptown from GV than it did when I lived in Southwest Minneapolis...that city traffic is a mutha. But sometimes, you just don't want to deal with commuting, parking and the unknown wait time of the city restaurants.
In my little suburb the food choices are generally fast food, Red Lobster, Perkins or one of a half dozen BAD chinese places. We did get a Joey's Seafood a little while back but it quickly went from good(when it opened) to just okay(about when it closed).
When we saw the signs start to go up for Smash Burger I quickly checked out their website. Salivary glands went into overdrive as I looked over their simple, sparse and perfect menu. Burgers, fries and shakes...basically. If you do it right, it's the perfect meal and you don't need lots of extras. Mecca, a good friend, chef and food writer called to let me know she had invitations for the preview and, after a consultation with the better half, made plans to tag along. Babies, man they complicate things, don't get me started. Long story short we didn't make the preview. We did however hit it up on opening which was the very next day.
It was okay. It was actually pretty good. By Golden Valley standards it was excellent.
I had a Classic Smashburger on an egg bun with haystack onions and a chocolate Haagen Daz shake. I have had better and I have had much worse. The ingredients seemed fresh and the egg bun was a nice change of pace. A huge step up from Mickey D's but not quite what I would find at The Chatterbox, The Convention Grill or Matt's Bar. To be fair I will try it again and make sure to get bacon and a fried egg on my burger and an order of Smashfries(with rosemary and garlic) as I think that would be a better example of their work.
I know that some folks don't think that Minneapolis is "all that" when it comes to food but I bet they would change their mind if they booked a table at Leann Chin in Golden Valley.

A Conundrum

Michael Jackson died yesterday(as if anyone in the world didn't know that fact) and I am left with mixed emotions. Do I mourn the loss of a musical and dance genius that changed the world or do I say good riddance to a possible deviant.
From his first performances with the Jackson 5 thru the release of Dangerous his smile, voice and innovative dancing captured the world's attention. He worked with some of the most influential people in the music business and I personally don't think that Quincy Jones would have become a household name without Michael. I remember when Thriller(the video) was released...unreal. Highly anticipated and it even managed to surpass the hype. Bad, Billie Jean, Rock With You, Beat It, Man in the Mirror...too many hits to list. And style? I would have never thought anyone but the Beatles could make a marching band outfit so popular or convince a nation that you only needed one glove(and a sparkly one at that). And influence? If Michael got royalties for every kid that grabbed his junk and went "hee-hee" he would have put the arab sheiks to shame. How many people today will tell you that they pursued music or dance because of Michael. Using his superstar status and world appeal he was also involved in many charities focused on topics like HIV, poverty, race and war and truly seemed to care about people.
In his later years his appearance seemed to start morphing into something that looked more like a white woman than a black man. Skin disorder or some sort of strange pursuit of his idea of perfection? An odd marriage to Lisa Marie Presley, rumors about the bones of The Elephant Man, holding his son "Blanket" over a hotel balcony railing, sleepovers at the Neverland Ranch and then eventual charges of child sexual abuse seemed to make him seem more like tabloid fodder than the King of Pop.
With someone as famous as Michael Jackson I am sure that none of us will ever know the real story. You want to hope for the best but it is awfully hard to ignore so many news reports.
I think I choose to mourn the death of the best of Michael Jackson. I don't know if that actually happened yesterday or many years before. I never had to moonwalk in his shoes so I can't imagine what it was like to be him(good or bad).
Thanks Michael for all of the joy that you brought to this world with your bright smile, beautiful voice, magical feet and creative mind.

Rich People Just Do Whatever They Want...

Pirate Hunters

The Most Dangerous Game...the modern, non-fiction version.

Survived BWCA 2009

Well, another successful trip thru the Boundary Waters thanks to Nate, Chrispy and Brandt. This time we luckily didn't have to deal with too much rain while we were in the canoes, just while we were trying to keep the fire going.
Nate did such a great job with planning(and fishing) that we had a fairly smooth time. That doesn't at all mean that it was easy but I think it only gets so easy in the BWCA.
Since Brandt put together such a cool video I won't blather on about the details but if you want to know more...check below.

Brandt Williams' video here.


Brandt Williams' photos here.
My photos here.

Kitchen Makeover Complete!

Over the past week we hired a cabinet maker, electrician and plumber to help us update our old school kitchen while trying to maintain some of the original design. They did a great job! They modified quite a few cabinets, removed and hung a large section of cabinets, added a microwave and dishwasher, updated our fridge and stove, moved some lights and added a new countertop and sink. They have to come back on Monday for just a few items(like oiling hinges, tightening cabinet doors, installing a grommet for the countertop for power) and we need to pick up a hanging potrack with lights for the new "island" and a round breakfast table for the 'nook" but it is pretty well done. Here are some before and after shots:

Layoff...

Looking for an ASP.Net or C# position.

What a great old song...

Reading skill or IQ hits all time low in the U.S.

Something about our neighborhood must say that we are disconnected from the world and need help as we have constantly had people coming to our door trying to ease our guilt, replace our roof or insure that we make it to heaven. Between charities, contractors and bible bangers our doorbell is never quiet. It's bad enough when they call but to just show up is just plain inconsiderate.
About a year ago I went out and bought a "No Soliciting" sign and hung it in plain view thinking that any reasonable person would read it and realize that we didn't want to be bothered. I vastly overestimated either the intelligence or the respectfulness of the average door knocker as it hasn't seemed to have done a bit of good.
You have to understand that every time the door bell rings, the dog goes crazy, the baby then starts crying and you have to go thru an inconvenient process:
- Get up from wherever you are
- Put the baby into the crib
- Try and calm down the dog
Now you get the pleasure of opening the door while holding back the dog and listening to screams from another room while trying to be patient and wait for a stranger to get to the point.
When there is a break in the pitch I let them know that we do not accept solicitation, point them to the sign and say goodbye.
Yesterday was especially bad timing and the poor "believer" took the brunt of it. As soon as I saw the Bible and he launched into his speech I let him know that we aren't interested in their fiction and goodbye...slam(that was the door).
After the fact, when things had calmed down, I felt bad for my overreaction. I don't really think I should have felt bad, but I did. Maybe these people live in a cave and don't know about things like mail, the phone or the internet. Maybe they think I have no idea that I can have whatever it is they are selling.
This is a notice to all of you out there about to ring my bell...
I donate to causes that I have researched and want to give to.
If my roof needs replacing I will pick up the Yellow Pages.
If I suddenly need salvation I am aware that your God squad is just a phone call or Sunday service away.
Don't call us, we'll call you!

It's Not Just For Breakfast Anymore...

Angus in the studio

Had a friend of mine, Greg, take some shots of Angus as he has much more experience with the wee ones. If you ever need baby shots, check out Accent Photography.

Satellite Radio

My new car came with satellite radio by default and I really didn't give it much thought. Yesterday I played around with it a bit and found a few stations that RAWK like crazy! Pretty much no commercials and fairly focused genres of music.

On the way in to work this morning on The Boneyard I heard VH, Judas Priest, Metallica and Queensryche back to back. I am not talking about the normal radio selections, I am talkin' about kickin', deep tracks that true fans love.

My second favorite station so far is Hair Nation which plays all of the cheesy, cool old hair bands from the 80s and 90s...you can almost hear the swoosh of spandex thru the radio.
I did also find a "Left Wing" talk channel as well as a couple of sports channels that sound promising - at least while MPR is running their pledge drive. I think it will take quite a while to see all of what is out there but I am eager to explore.

I am a convert. Go get your satellite radio.

Family 'Mobile

Last night I traded in my sporty little GTI for a family-friendly '08 Hyundai Azera Limited. The main reason for this switch was that I couldn't fit Angus' car seat in the back of the VW and even if I could it would have been difficult getting it in and out. My GTI was coming due on tires, brakes, tabs and the end of the warranty and I was having a repeated problem of a coil in the engine breaking so now seemed like a good time. I can't say enough about the Walser Hyundai dealership, they were very helpful and they don't make a commission so except for it just taking a while it was a good experience.
This car had some really good reviews as well as a 10 year 100,000 mile warranty with free car washes and oil changes. It has quite a few more bells and whistles than I was looking for but I really wanted the leather seats, as they clean up so nice, and you end up getting a bunch of other stuff with it. It is used with 14,000 miles on it but I got a 35,000 car for half the price so I am happy.
Now, if I can just shake this miserable cold I will be good to go.

Snip-Snip

Now that Liz and I have fulfilled our civic duty and brought a child into the world it is time to put the days of birth control pills and condoms behind us.
Since we have some bow-chicka-wow-wow downtime at the moment due to the new baby I had a consultation yesterday with a urologist. I am scheduled next week for a routine vasectomy. In the office they kept referring to it as "sterilization". I understand that the term is correct and actually exactly what we are looking for but it sounds more like something you would do with a dog.
I am not actually worried at all about the procedure, the pain or the thought of not being able to have any more kids. I however am not excited about the fact that this particular doctor is not in on Fridays so I will have to work the following day. I am also not super excited about getting in the stirrups with my junk hanging out for all to see. I understand that women have to go thru this all of the time but as a novice, the thought of it isn't very exciting.
When I made the appointment they made me sign a release which TWO different people had to witness. Then, they let me know that my wife also needed to sign it at home. Weird. Apparently this is due to lawsuits but it doesn't make much sense to me. First off, if they aren't going to witness what good is a random signature. Secondly, what if I told them I wasn't married? I have never heard of this being required for an abortion, not that I would really know, and I would think the likelihood of lawsuit by an expectant father would be greater. What a crazy world.
Apparently it takes about 3 months to empty out the reserves so they will give me a test at that time to see if I am good to go. I found out that it really isn't based on time but based on the amount of expulsion. I am pretty sure that with the right training, motivation and commitment I can halve that time for sure.
If you are looking for me next weekend I will most likely be at home on the couch with a bag of frozen peas on my junk...not that that's new.

For your entertainment...
The Vasectomy Song

Get A Job

After slacking around the house for the last month I decided it was time for Angus to get a job and start contributing to the diaper fund.

He was all duded up for an interview at Baby Gap and I thought he might need some prep time so I hooked him up with Pop(of Hop On Pop), where he promptly fell asleep.



I then decided to get a few things done around the house and while I was upstairs he turned on the TV, ate a bag of Donettes and passed out.


Just plain lazy.

A New Era

For all of you doubters out there that say that electing a black president in and of itself isn't enough. For those of you that don't believe that hope and inspiration alone aren't enough to make some difference in the world. For those of you that say things won't really change.
I dare you to come to my house and watch the inauguration from my DVR.
Between the sight of the huge crowd choking the national mall, Obama's speech, Joseph Lowery's benediction and the Queen of Soul singing My Country 'Tis of Thee, if you can remain dry-eyed and unimpressed than you are just not human.

From the new mama...

Angus is three weeks old today! On one hand it's hard to believe it's been 3 weeks since he was born and on the other it sometimes seems like it's been more like 3 years. Time has taken on a whole new dimension where it flies but drags simultaneously. There is no longer differentiation between night and day, just a round the clock regimen of meeting basic human needs; feed, burp, change, sleep, wash, rinse, repeat.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining. It turns out that caring for a newborn is a lesson in dialing life back to the basics, living in the moment and doing something that really matters. What a beautiful change from the hamster run that is working for the Man for no more satisfaction than a bi-weekly paycheck.

Little Angus changes little by little every minute of every day. In 3 short weeks he has learned to focus his eyes (both at the same time!) and I swear that yesterday he looked at me and smiled... really smiled, right at me. For all the exhaustion and frustration that also comes with the package, that one little smile made is all so worth while.

I can't wait until he does it again...

Instead of starting out 2009 with resolutions I thought I would post a rant...

2009 – Things That I Hate(inspired by WhiskeyMarie)

Campaign Spending
Obama and McCain together spent over 1 billion dollars on their presidential campaigns. Are you freakin’ kidding me? Coleman and Franken raised over 40 million in their senatorial race. This should be government funded, each with the same amount and it shouldn’t be much. Let the best man/woman win in a fair race without breaking the bank.

Cigarette Tax/Smoking Laws
Increasing the cigarette tax every time you need to cover a budget shortfall is BS. The people who are paying for this are primarily lower income folks and those with an addiction. Way to take advantage of those least equipped to fight back or abstain. Either make it illegal or get the hell off my back.
I get that people want to be able to go places and breathe fresh air(like that is even possible in a city…ever get behind a diesel bus?). Some parts of the law make lots of sense. What doesn’t make sense to me is banning it in your car, a public park or a bar. The first two I believe are self explanatory. Bars are a place to drink, smoke, let down your hair and just be. People vote with their feet, if they don’t like the smoke they won’t show up. As for people working there…there are lots of jobs that can be or are hazardous to your health. If you don’t like the risk, don’t take the job.

Government Pay & Perks
Why is it that even when the economy is down, the higher ups in government still get a raise? Why is it that every time I see a high ranking official they are in a HUGE gas-guzzling SUV? Why is it that we can’t get universal health care unless we work for the government?

Cell Phone Contracts
I don’t think this needs an explanation.

Federal Spending
The government is very good at writing checks. They are very bad at making sure of how the money is spent.
“It’s an emergency” got us into Iraq and now seems to have given away a ton of TARP money to stabilize the economy.
The governments is also very good at requiring new programs. They just don’t seem to know how to fund them.
No Child Left Behind would be a prime example.

Insurance Companies
This also is pretty straight forward.

Minneapolis Transportation
Why don’t we have trains? Why did it take us so long to start on light rail? Why are highways built to only handle the current traffic load? Why don’t we have express bus service between the suburbs(does anyone even work downtown anymore?)?

5 Day Work Week
Who decided that we should work(mostly at jobs we hate) 5 days a week and only have 2 days a week off? We are working to live, not living to work. 4 day work week at best…3 would be just right.

Indian Food
Yuck.
I sat down at a restaurant one time with 3 other people where we all ordered different items. When the food came it all looked like it came from the same bucket of diarrhea.

Urban Sprawl
If you have been to Maple Grove in the past 5 years you surely have seen the endless strip mall. Apparently people don’t think we are ever going to run out of real estate. What is really crazy to me is that instead of building an indoor mall(like Southdale) they have covered 50 times that footprint with outdoor malls. Not only does parking suck, the one-level design is a complete waste of space and with Minnesota winters you are forced to walk outside between stores(as I write this it is -21 with a -41 windchill).

The Religious Right
Believe whatever flavor of fiction you want, just don't push your fantasies on the rest of us.

Almost 2 Weeks Old

Angus "The Goose" Hipps at home at almost 2 weeks of age.
(click picture to enlarge)

Kewl Toonz

I have been relentlessly spinning two bands recently and can’t seem to get away from them.


Psapp is credited with being the inventors of Toytronica music. Along with mainstream instruments they use toy instruments and other non-instruments(along with vocals) in their songs. Very cool and laid back. If you haven’t heard them you should check them out.
Psapp



The Brand New Heavies are not new, but cool soul and funk to groove to.
BNH

Feel like...

...crap.
No sleep for anyone, Liz' voice is almost gone and I feel like I got hit by a train. And this is only day 5.
How do people do this?

New Papa

More from the hospital...

Home

We are all home safe and sound.
Moxie is VERY curious and wants to be right in on the action.
Hope everyone had a good New Year celebration!

Blam!

Angus Teague Hipps
12/30/2008 at 1:19pm
7lbs 3 oz
19 1/2"

Angus and Liz are both doing GREAT!

I will post more later but this sick dad needs some rest before heading back into baby land.

P.S. He is really taking after his father...first being breach and then giving his nurse the finger! Since she was REALLY scottish(cool accent and all) she just took it as a salute to a fellow Scottsman.